Cao Ang stood on the city wall of Zhiguan, looking at the Huns army covering the sky and the sun in the distance, and couldn't help but sigh.
Cao Ren handed over to him and said: "The general is incompetent. I didn't expect that Huchuquan may seem reckless, but he is actually a cautious man. Before the army arrived, the scouts were already spread out for dozens of miles. Our careful work will not get us any advantage at all. We can't get any advantage at all if we work carefully. According to our reports, wherever the Huns' army went, whether it was the territory of the Wei family or under the rule of the Baibo Army, all the people were rounded up and escorted here."
Cao Ren paused for a moment, then whispered: "The general estimates that the enemy wants to force these people to attack Zhiguan, which will damage the morale of the defenders and consume our defense supplies!"
Cao Ang frowned and whispered: "Is there any possibility of rescuing them? I sent people to notify them to evacuate a few days ago, why are they still staying where they are?"
Cao Ren shook his head and replied in a low voice: "They must be reluctant to part with the pots and pans. Besides, they are all under the rule of the Wei family and do not trust us! As for going out of the city to rescue them, I estimate that all the elites in Huchuquan , are waiting for us to go out to fight in the city! Most of them are cavalry, and their favorite thing is encounters!"
Cao Ang patted the battlements hard and said in a deep voice: "Go down and distribute the supplies to defend the city, and organize the archers to be on standby. Ifif the other side coerces the people to attack the city, I allow you to shoot freely! In addition, I will announce the assembly of some outstanding archers. There may be Hun 'condor shooters' on the opposite side! You should also be more careful and wear two layers of armor, uncle!"
Upon hearing this, Cao Ren couldn't help but glance at Cao Ang, and whispered: "Don't worry, my lord, you will never be able to make an arrow that can kill me. I estimate that the other side will harass us tomorrow, and my lord is absolutely fine." Watching the battle in the city, there is no need to go to the city. If I can't handle this small situation, then what dignity do I have to be a guard here?!"
Cao Ang knew what Cao Ren meant and allowed himself to watch the battle in the city. On the one hand, it was for his own safety, and on the other hand, it was also for Cao Ang's reputation. After all, shooting people, even out of necessity, brings notoriety.
Looking at Cao Ang's sincere eyes, Cao Ang smiled slightly, turned around and went down to the city. He just said a sentence in the wind, but it moved Cao Ren: "Tomorrow, I will beat the drum on the tower to cheer for the general!"
Cao Ren saluted Cao Ang's back seriously, "My lord, since you insist on taking on the reputation of shooting civilians, then I, Cao Ren, have nothing else to do. I will step on enemy lines, defeat enemies and kill thieves for you in this life, and I will never regret it." !
Early the next morning, the Huns made an exception and killed five hundred sheep, made sheep soup, and distributed it to the common people who they regarded as consumables. Among them were common people under the Wei family, rebels under the Baibo Army, and even some Huns from small tribes.
More than a dozen interpreters were riding on horses, shouting loudly: "Lord Zuo Xian, please be kind and give you extra food! It's all delicious mutton, which makes it easier for you bastards! Lord Zuo Xian said that Zhi Pass must be conquered at noon today." No one is allowed to retreat from the city wall. Anyone who violates the rules will be killed. After everyone has finished eating, collect weapons from the gate of the camp and head towards Zhiguan!"
Hearing the call of the interpreter, a captured Han soldier whispered: "Master Tun, let's rebel! There are no fools in Zhiguan. When we rush over, we will definitely shoot arrows. We can't rush over. Instead of that If you die at Zhiguan, you might as well fight with the Huns!"
Wearing the clothes of a soldier, the general nodded: "I have discussed it with them. As soon as we receive the weapons, we will rebel! Either way, we will all die. We have to find a Huns to back us up!"
The group of people swore an oath and discussed each other. However, when they were escorted out of the camp by the fully armed Huns, they couldn't help but sigh when they looked at the weapons they received. These Huns were so damn cunning, they actually gave everyone only a wooden stick, and the green leaves on it hadn't been picked off yet!
Before anyone could complain, dozens of people who were left behind had been beheaded by the Huns. The previous interpreters shouted loudly: "If we capture Zhiguan, you will all survive; if we cannot capture it, you will all die!"
Being forced by them, many people ran to Zhiguan involuntarily. Everyone is Han, so maybe the defenders will be lenient and let them in!
Seeing the people rushing closer and closer, Cao Ren shouted loudly: "Everyone shout together, those who rush through the pass will die and run to the mountains on both sides!"
Hearing his order, all the soldiers guarding the gate shouted: "Anyone who rushes through the gate will die. Run to the mountains on both sides!"
When the people below the city heard the shouts, they couldn't help but hesitate. But looking at the boundless virgin forests on both sides, no one dares to risk their lives in them. God knows how many ferocious beasts and wolves there are, and everyone has no food. Rushing in will not lead to death! Do those guardsmen really have the heart to shoot arrows?
Except for a small group of people, most of the people went to ZhiguanCome running. Before Cao Ang could give the order, Cao Ren shouted loudly: "Fire the arrow!"
Last night Cao Ren introduced the situation to everyone, and everyone was aware of it. Besides, once the Huns break the barrier, no one will be able to escape death, and everyone's family members will be wantonly insulted by the Huns, and their lives will be worse than death! Rather than losing your life for a moment of mercy, it is better to fight to the end now!
Most of the soldiers obeyed Cao Ren's order and shot arrows at the people below the city.
These common people under the city have no protection at all, and they have no conditions to cut wooden shields. Almost every arrow can take away the life of a common people. Under the concentrated fire of the two thousand defenders on the city, almost everyone failed to cross the moat and all died on the river bank!
As the four to five thousand people who led the battle were shot dead by the Zhiguan garrison, the remaining people stopped and retreated as they dared not move forward.
At this time, Luan Tihu Chuquan gave an order, and a thousand soldiers supervising the battle immediately fired their bows and arrows at the retreating people.
The interpreters lost no time in shouting: "There is still a glimmer of hope to advance, but if you retreat you will be shot on the spot!"
Looking at the heavily armed Huns and the piles of corpses on the ground, the people could only turn around and continue rushing towards Zhiguan.
Qubei said in a low voice: "King Zuo Xian, is this useful? You and I both know that the defenders on the opposite side must have prepared a lot of supplies, and these common people will not have much effect!"
Hu Chuquan smiled coldly, "No, go humble, you are wrong! I don't intend to let them break through, I just want them to use their bodies to fill in the moat, fill in all the trenches, and pave the way for us to attack. . Besides, if the Han troops in the city kill all Han people, they will be soft-hearted, and they who were originally filled with righteous indignation will gradually become numb and slack off. It not only consumes their physical strength, but also damages their morale. What's the point? Not?!"
" Seeing the corpses of the people filling up the trenches and moats, Huchuquan gave an order, and the trumpeter immediately blew the trombone. Upon hearing his order, two hundred carefully selected eagle shooters held their own long bows and rode towards the city wall.
Although they were charging, these vulture shooters had no intention of attacking by force. Instead, they reined in their horses near the arrow site outside the city. They relied on their advantage in the range of their longbows and their excellent shooting skills to continuously shoot and kill the defenders. The soldiers of Cao's army in the city.
In just one encounter, more than a hundred soldiers fell to the arrows of these Huns. Many soldiers couldn't help but hesitate to dodge, paying more attention to the protection of the battlements. They always hesitated before throwing their heads, and casually threw rolling stones and wooden logs at the bottom of the city. Regardless of whether they hit the target or not, the soldiers retracted their heads and did not dare to show up to see.
As a result, the efficiency of the Cao family's soldiers plummeted, and more and more people successfully rushed to the city. While shouting loudly, they hit the city wall with wooden sticks, trying to dig a passage.
The city wall of Zhiguan is very thick, and the attempts of the people can only be in vain. However, as the city wall shakes, more and more soldiers guarding the gate feel a little sad and can't help but feel a little pity. Now that the fierce battle has come, everyone is a little tired and no longer has the same strength as before.
Hu Chuquan himself was a vulture shooter with excellent eyesight. He was overjoyed when he saw the sparse bows and arrows on the city wall counterattacking. He immediately shouted loudly: "Blow the trumpet, three long and one short, the whole army attacks!"
Hearing his order, the soldiers blew their horn trombones hard, three long and one short. This is also a signal to make an agreement with Xizuo in the city. After hearing this order, Xizuo, who has sneaked into the city long ago, should get up immediately and cooperate inside and outside!
Hearing the enemy's horn sound, Cao Ren shouted loudly: "Reserve team, come on!"
While shouting, he rushed out personally, ran to a battlement, and fired arrows hard towards the outside.
Soon, a Hun eagle shooter noticed him and immediately raised his long bow and aimed at him. Boy, you deserve your misfortune!
While he was making his wishful thinking, his chest suddenly shook, and then, an indescribable sting and coldness spread throughout his body. Looking down, he saw a long arrow with carved feathers stuck in his heart!
I saw Xia Houyuan suddenly leaping onto the battlements, standing there, constantly drawing the long bow in his hand, and started shooting at the Huns' vulture shooters!
While shooting, Xia Houyuan shouted loudly: "I am Xia Houyuan from Qiao County. Who dares to shoot with me?!"
Faced with such an arrogant human-shaped arrow target, many vulture shooters were so angry that they changed their targets and aimed at Xia Houyuan.
However, Xia Houyuan¡¯s painstakingly trained men are just decorations, especially the long bows in their hands are more sophisticated than those of the Huns; the long arrows with carved feathers in their hands are better than those of the Huns.When the arrow comes, the range is enhanced. More than a hundred archers worked together and suppressed the Huns' vulture shooters in the distance!
Xia Houyuan jumped down from the battlement very gracefully and shook his sore wrist. These damn Huns are really good at archery!
At this moment, I heard a noise coming from near the city gate